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Introduction
For over two decades, Fred Newman has been a unique voice in the American theatre.
In 30 highly original and entertaining plays and musicals, Newman’s plays
are deeply philosophical and accessible, sharply political and non-didactic. Read
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Links
• allstars.org |
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Newman
hits home with a play on Jackie Robinson
Linda Armstrong
Amsterdam News
October 14 - October 20, 2004
When we think of Jackie Robinson, we all think of the African-American man who
came from the Negro Baseball League and was the first Black man to play in the
all-white Major Leagues, as second baseman with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Of course Robinson faced a lot of racism, from umpires as well as fans. But no
matter what Robinson faced, he kept going. He was a hero to Blacks.
A production called "Stealin' Home (A Baseball Fantasy)" looks at that
side of Robinson's life, but also gives the audience more of the story of Robinson
the human being. It looks at some of the things that happened in his life that
did not garner praise from the African-American community. This play gives a
more balanced picture of Robinson than one is used to seeing in a production
focused
on a historical legend. It also shows this great player a lot of respect and
love. "Stealin' Home" is written by Fred Newman, the artistic director
of the Castillo Theatre on West 42nd Street, which is both producing and presenting
the
play. Newman is also co-directing the production along with David Nackman.
With this production Newman helps the audience to get to know Robinson in an
honest way. Using a Black female character by the name of Sojourner, he constantly
gives Robinson the opportunity to hear what Black people are feeling about him.
This character comes to him in different forms, as a young waitress in the '40s
and again as a young waitress in the '70s. She is someone who keeps his head
from swelling. While she will praise him as a hero for Black people, she will
also chastise him. In one scene she tells him to remember that he is a Black
man working in a white man's world, after he laughs and proudly recalls pulling
off a trick play he learned in the Negro League. She lets him know that he may
have fooled the white umpire this time, but that same umpire will get his revenge.
This is not child's play.
Robinson is shown to be a loyal husband, a loving father and a genuinely kind
person,
but he was also quick to respond to racism. The play takes the audience from
seeing a young, energetic Robinson to later seeing an older Robinson who is no
longer part of the Majors, but is instead Vice President of Chock Full O' Nuts
Coffee and has become a Republican. We see a fragile, diabetic, half-blind Robinson
who has done with his life what he felt he had to do to survive.
The play ends with an interesting fantasy in which Robinson, now living in his
second lifetime, realizes that Sojourner is someone who had reoccurred throughout
his first life-time and finally gets to ask her what she wanted. She responds
that she wants him to be happy. In the end he is happy, he is old, but he's in
uniform as the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Cast members in this production will have you riveted. They include Garrett Lee
Hendricks as Robinson, Andy Parker as his teammate and team captain PeeWee (Robinson's
real-life friend), and DonishaBrown as Sojourner.
Baseball and Jackie Robinson are definitely the focus of the Castillo Theatre
for the next two months. The opening weekend of the show was used to honor and
financially
benefit the Harlem RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), located in East Harlem.
This 501(c)(3) organization was founded in 1991 and serves youth ages 7-18 by
using baseball, softball and teamwork to provide inner-city youth with opportunities
to play, to learn, and grow. It integrates youth development with sports activities
and team participation. Harlem RBI has programs including year-round baseball
and softball; an afterschool program; internship oppor- tunities; counseling
and referral services; the REAL (Reading and Enrichment Academy of Learning)
kids summer program; and Team Enrichment, a group based activities program for
junior high school participants.
In addition to this production, which will play through December 12, the Castillo
Theatre is having a Jackie Robinson and baseball festival that includes a gallery
exhibition
of Brooklyn Dodger baseball art in the lobby, as well as two special public dialogues
on Robinson's impact on baseball. The first one oc-
curred Sunday, October 10th, after the 2 p.m. show. It featured Tom Stanton,
author
of "Hank Aaron and the Home Run That Changed America." To find out
the
date of the second dialogue and to purchase tickets for "Stealin' Home," call
212-941-1234.
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